Control device for controlling an electrically operated valve
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Solution Overview
Problem
The frequent initializing process of electrically operated valves, especially in car air conditioners, leads to reduced durability and potential failures due to increased collision frequency of the stepping motor rotor with the stopper, necessitating a solution to enhance reliability and prevent premature wear.
Innovation Solution
A control device with a memory means to track the initializing process frequency using a microcomputer and counter, which stores and communicates this data, allowing for monitoring and preventing failures by alerting for replacement when the frequency exceeds predetermined limits, and integrating with existing communication networks like LIN or CAN for vehicle applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the initializing process is executed frequently to correct valve displacement, then the valve positioning accuracy is improved, but the durability of the electrically operated valve deteriorates due to increased collision frequency between rotor and stopper
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of valve displacement during normal operation and accumulates correction data. Instead of executing frequent initializing processes, the system prepares correction information in advance and executes initialization only when necessary or when the vehicle is turned off, thereby maintaining positioning accuracy while reducing mechanical wear from repeated collisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors valve position and displacement during operation, providing feedback to determine when initialization is actually needed. This feedback mechanism prevents unnecessary initializing processes, reducing rotor-stopper collisions while maintaining accurate valve positioning through real-time displacement detection and correction.
2Measurement precision
If the initializing process is executed every traveling cycle in car air conditioners, then the valve positioning accuracy is maintained, but the executing frequency becomes excessively high causing durability problems
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of actual valve displacement during normal operation and accumulates correction data. Initialization is executed only when displacement exceeds thresholds or at appropriate moments (e.g., vehicle shutdown), rather than every traveling cycle, reducing execution frequency while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from continuous displacement monitoring to intelligently determine when initialization is necessary. By comparing actual displacement against thresholds and operational conditions, the system executes initialization only when needed, preventing excessive execution frequency while maintaining valve positioning accuracy.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
The invention provides an electrically operated valve control device which prevents a failure of an electrically operated valve caused by an executing frequency of an initializing process and has a high reliability. In an electrically operated valve control device (11) of an electrically operated valve (9) provided with a valve body which controls a flow rate of a fluid, and a motor (a stepping motor) which drives the valve body, the control device is provided with a valve opening degree control means (a microcomputer (11 b) and a stepping motor driver (11 d)) which controls a valve opening degree of the electrically operated valve, an initializing control means (the microcomputer (11b) and the stepping motor driver (11 d)) which executes an initializing process of the electrically operated valve, and a memory means (EEPROM) (11e), and an executing frequency of the initializing process is stored in the memory means. The control device is further provided with a communicating means (a LIN transceiver (11c)) which carries out transmission and receipt of a signal, and can output the executing frequency of the initializing process which is stored in the memory means. An electrically operated valve device (12) can be constructed by the electrically operated valve (9) to which the electrically operated valve control device (11) is integrally attached.